AIA Guide to the Architecture of Washington, D.C. [Paperback]

Mr. Christopher Weeks (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1994 | ISBN-10: 0801847133 | ISBN-13: 978-0801847134 | Edition: 3rd

Shaped not only by the grand vision of Washington, Jefferson, and L'Enfant but also by political squabbles, bureaucratic dawdling, costly blunders and the occasional genius that characterize American public life, the architecture of Washington reflects our nation's history with uncommon richness. This third edition of the "AIA Guide to the Architecture of Washington, D.C." is a companion for tourists and residents alike - for anyone interested in contemporary Washington and its most important architectural landmarks. Revising and updating the AIA's popular 1974 edition, it offers concise descriptions and photographs of some 450 of the city's most notable structures, including nearly one hundred built since the mid-1970s. New entries by Christopher Weeks blend informed descriptions with lively commentary on each landmark - from the FBI's massive headquarters ("brutalism on a grand scale") to the venerable Mayflower Hotel ("exactly what a bouncy, big-city, luxury hotel should be"). Accompanied by an updated photograph, each entry includes the structure's location, its original architect or design firm, and data of completion. Additional information is included for long-term, projects (like the recently completed national cathedral) and for significant renovations of older structures. The distinguished architectural historian Francis D. Lethbridge, FAIA, has revised and updated his introductory essay, to which Weeks has added a postscript covering the past 20 years. Conveniently organised into 17 walking tours (with a map included for each), the guide describes notable structures in well-known areas throughout the city: Capitol Hill; The Mall; Judiciary Square; The Federal Triangle; Pennsylvania Avenue and Downtown; Midtown; The White House/Lafayette Square; Foggy Bottom/West End; Dupont Circle; Massachusetts Avenue/Kalorama; Cleveland Park/Woodley Park/Rock Creek; Foxhall; Georgetown; Arlington National Cemetery; Meridian Hill; Capitol South; other places of interest.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Washington possesses a rich architectural heritage that spans well over two centuries. This guidebook, initially commissioned by the Washington Metropolitan Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in 1965 and last updated in 1974, provides a welcome introduction to the architecture of the nation's capital. Organized into 17 walking tours, over 450 structures are concisely described and professionally photographed. Some of the city's newer, mediocre buildings are given more attention than they deserve; the city's unfortunate penchant for constructing new buildings behind historic facades receives scant criticism; there are no photographs of building interiors; and buildings located outside of the district's boundaries (such as Dulles Airport) have been excluded from this edition. Despite these quibbles, this is a significant reference tool for Washingtonians that fills a major void.
H. Ward Jandl, National Park Svc., Washington, D.C.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"A new guidebook to the capital city's architecture brings powerful evidence of the continuing evolution of Washington's streetscape... Beyond the additions, the book represents a major reworking of the previous edition -- some entries have been deleted, descriptions have been improved, and many new photographs have been included." -- Washington Post

"This recently updated third edition of a Washington classic surveys hundreds of the District's most notable architectural landmarks. Arranged into 17 walking tours, this handsomely illustrated guide covers not only the monuments of the Mall, but also the diplomatic chateaux lining Massachusetts Avenue NW; the churches, parks, and other monumental architecture that climb up Meridian Hill; and the 'brutalism on a grand scale' that characterizes the new FBI building and other bureaucratic monstrosities." -- Washington Times

"The model of what a concise, attractive guidebook should be." -- Mid-Atlantic Country

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: The Johns Hopkins University Press; 3rd edition (September 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801847133
• ISBN-13: 978-0801847134
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #462,043 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Washington by Design, August 24, 2005

By 

Shannon Deason (Houston) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: AIA Guide to the Architecture of Washington, D.C. (Paperback)

This is a wonderful book that highlights all the most important buildings in the District. It gives a short synopsis on each buiding highlighted, some like the Capitol and the White House getting a bit more coverage. It was quite comprehensive, and the buildings covered came with pictures. It is not up to the level of the AIA Guide to Detriot or New York, but it is a nice guide none the less. I definitly recommend it to anyone interested in the architecture of the District.

4.0 out of 5 stars Great architectural overview of the nation's capital city., July 21, 2008

By 

Andrew J. Degnan (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: AIA Guide to the Architecture of Washington, D.C. (Paperback)

This AIA guide to Washington, DC is a great resource for those interested in learning a little about the many interesting buildings in the nation's capital. It is concise enough to add more interest and depth to a tourist's visit to DC and comprehensive enough to offer enough information to keep an amateur architecture enthusiast informed about DC's architecture. As a student of classical architecture in the nation's capital, I used this book to provide me with some fundamental, perfunctory background about the monuments, federal buildings, and privately-owned buildings of the city. It has served me well and I have no doubt that it will provide most with a more than adequate introduction to the finer points of this nation's city.